Search
shop

Ben Wickham’s Rockin’ Roth Update #1

The first weekly update from Ben Wickham on his road to Challenge Roth. The Tour De Essex kicked off the day... with a bit of running to finish it.
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Having introduced Ben Wickham HERE, let’s crack straight on with his first update on the Rockin’ Roth road to Challenge Roth 2017 on Sunday 9th July

Advertisement

May 29th Week One (5 weeks to go) 

No one really tells you what it feels like to train for an iron-distance race.

In truth it doesn’t even seem that hard when you start. A long ride with mates, a few more lengths in the pool. Maybe a long-ish run here and there. But before you know it you end up doing something at the weekend that makes other people think you’ve taken leave of your senses. So it was when I found myself yesterday heading out on the Tour De Essex (long route, 110 miles), after having set up my running kit, ready to carry on this insanely long day out when I finally returned.

But let’s back up a bit. How did we get here? I used to consider myself a runner, but I enjoyed being on my bike and swimming too much, so after a couple of years of training for Olympic and Sprint distance (qualifying for Chicago and Cozumel Worlds by the steepest of roll-downs), my coach kindly suggested I was better at longer distances (he was, in truth, more direct about my abilities, but I’ll spare you the language). So I jumped in with both feet, and set my alarm to log on the instant Challenge Roth 2017 entries opened.

Roth: sells out in 8 minutes… Solar Hill… Chrissie… Jan…
If you’re going do something, let’s do it big.

And now we’re five weeks away. I’ve never done anything quite this long before, so I want your advice, I want your stories and I want you along for the ride. If nothing else I want you have laugh with me, and quite probably at me.

I’ll be here every week, and you can follow the journey at the links below, so please say hello, and join the chat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytd8-oFHicQ&t=10s

Check back next week for the latest update and in the meantime you can keep up to date with Ben via his social media:

Strava Ben Wickham https://www.strava.com/athletes/313539?hl=en-GB
IG @bmwickham https://www.instagram.com/bmwickham/
Twitter @benjiwickham https://twitter.com/benjiwickham
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/benjaminwickham

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
latest News
The PTO's CEO Sam Renouf
PTO reveal ambitions of matching Roth and Kona as French Riviera T100 triathlon course details unveiled
Sam Long St George 2024 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘No No No’ – Sam Long says he felt ROBBED by swim cancellation at ‘69.1 Chattanooga’
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
Kristian Hogenhaug interviewed after The Championship 2025
Danish triathlon star highlights blistering bike split as key to The Championship success.
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...